Morcar

Morcar of Northumbria (died c. 1087) was a nobleman of the Kingdom of England under the Anglo-Saxons. He was one of the English commanders in the Battle of Fulford against the Vikings in 1066, and one of the rebels against King William the Conqueror afterwards.

Biography
Morcar of Northumbria was one of the rebels against Tostig Godwinson in 1065, and he became the Earl of Northumbria after King Harold Godwinson made peace in 1066, leading to Tostig going rogue. When Harold Godwinson became king he supporter Morcar's claim, although Morcar's people were discontented. Morcar stopped Tostig from ravaging the coast, although when his army returned to York they were met by Harald Hardrada's invading Norwegian army. In the Battle of Fulford, they were defeated, and Morcar and Edwin of Mercia fled. They aided Godwinson in the Battle of Stamford Bridge, where they defeated the Norwegians, and after Harold's death in the Battle of Hastings in October, Morcar and Edwin headed to London, one of the Anglo-Saxon strongholds.

In 1068, Morcar and Edwin rebelled against King William the Conqueror, the new king of England, who had invaded with his Normans and conquered London. Supported by English and Welsh, they fought hard but in 1071 the two were inclined to surrender, risking too much; they were welcomed back to court. However, Edwin and Morcar fled to the Isle of Ely, where they aided insurgents. They were again captured, and this time imprisoned. When William was on his deathbed in 1087, however, he insisted that Morcar and Edwin be released. However, they were recaptured by Prince Rufus and put in prison again.